Plant-controlling system



H. B. HALVORSEN PLANT CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. '22, 1927.. 1,649,898

1,649,898 H. B. HALVORSEN Filed Dec. 5. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

PLANT CONTROLLING SYSTEM Nov. 22, 192 7.

3 MM. w\\| 7% Patented Nov; 22, 1927.

I UNITED STATES-"PATENT OFFICE.

HALBER'I BFHALVORSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T SULLIVAN MACHIN- 4 ERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION -OF MASSACHUSETTS.

IPLANT-GONTROLLING sysrnm. I

Application filled December 8,1921. Serial 1T0. 519,661.

My invention relates to plant controlling systems and more particularly to compres sor controllin systems and especially to systems including compressors as an ad unct to a plant in which other prime movers make intermittent relatively large demands upon the source of power.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved system of control for plants including continuously and intermittently operatin units. Another objectof my invention 1s to provide an improved compressor controlling mechanism adapted to unload a compressor at such times as other power consuming devices drawing their power medium from the same source as the compressor driving motor are in operation. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved compressor controlling mechanism adapted to unload the compressor at such times as other power consuming devices drawing their power medium from the same lines as the compressor driving 1 motor are in operatlon and automatically operating to reload the compressor as soon as the demand for current by such other devices ceases. Other objects of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

A In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,- m

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a compressor including system operating in accordance with my invention, certain parts being shown diagrammatically. I

Fig. 2 is a detail on an enlarged scale with parts shown in central vertical section to illustrate structural features.

Fig. 3 is another detail in central vertical section on a still larger scale and of a different part from that shown in section in Fig.2.

In the illustrative embodiment of my invention I have shown the same employed in connection with a power plant in which 'there is comprised a compressor 1 driven by an electric motor 2 and discharging to a receiver 3. The intake of the compressor is provided with an intake unloading valve mechanism 4 of a well known form, this mechanism comprising a valve proper 5 which is adapted to be closed by a piston 6 reciprocating in a cylinder 7 when receiver pressure rises above a predetermined desired maximum, the receiver pressure under those conditions being sufiicient to open a pilot 7 rupt the supply of air to act upon the piston 6 and will open a suitable vent in a well known manner. Arranged in alinement with the cylinder 7 is a supplemental cylinder 1O havin a bore 11 in which a is reciprocab e, this piston being a apted to exert a pressure upon a rod 13 whose lowen end mayengage the upper surface of the piston 6 and force it downward under conditions hereinafter described. As the rod 13 has a loose sliding fit in its uide, air

iston 12 from the lower cylinder 7 mig t escape through the lower end of c linder 10. To prevenflthis the lower on of rod 13 is formed lnto a valve head 13' and closes communication between cylinders 7 and 10 when in uppermost position. A suitable adjustable stop 14 serves to limit the possible upvcyard movement of the piston 12 in its cyliner. springs 15 automatically raise the piston 6 and accordingly the piston 12 as soon as the pressure acting to hold either of these istons in depressed position is relieved. or the purpose .of conducting operating fluid to the cylinder 11, a connection 16 leads from the receiver to a second pilotvalve 17 and thence by way of a line 18 to the top of the cylinder 11, a suitable adjustable needle valve 19 controlling the rate of flow to the latter.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the pilot valve 17 comprises a housing 20 having therein a ball valve receiving chamber 21. Within the chamber 21 there is arranged a valve seat v22 upon which a ball valve 23 may seat. The pipe 16 communicates with the chamber 21 above the seat 22 and pipe 18 with said chamber below the ball valve 23. Accordingly, it will be evident that the ball valve'must be unseated in order that fluid ressure may flow to the auxiliary unloading mechanism 10. v For the purpose of unseating the valve 23, a plunger 24 is arranged in alinement therewith, there being a suflicient clearance between the eripherv of the plunger 24 and the wall 0 the guiding passage 25v formed in the housing 20 in which it is reciprocable It will be noted from Fig. 1 that to ermit after seating of the valve23 the leaEin g away of the pressure from above the iston 12. This plunger is rovided at its ower end with a head 24 a apted toclose the passage 25 when the ball 23 is unseated. lever 26 is pivoted upon the stationary pivot 27 to one side of the lower end of the plun er 24 andthis lever is adapted to ralse the pdunger and open the valve under certaln conditions hereinafter described, the free end of the lever "being loosely connected to the core or armature 28 of a solenoid 29 in order that the supply of current to the solenoid may cause raising of the lever 26 and opening of the ball valve.

It will be noted that the motor 2 receives current by way of wires 30 and 31 from a generator G, the wire 31 being controlled by a suitable switch herein shown simpl as aknife switch 32; It will be obvious, owever, that bo'th wires 30 and 31 may be controlled by a double blade switch, or any different type of switch used in the wire 31 if desired, a regular starting box being preferred in practice. Also adapted to be operated by current supply from the generator G is a motor M which may be any other electrically operated prime mover of such size as to draw heavily upon the mains connected with the generator G, for example, a hoist operating motor. The control of current supply to the motor M is controlled by the starting box' 33,- and coo erating with the controller lever 35 thereo is a sector made of conducting material 34 which is adapted to be contacted by the lever 35 before the first point in the controller 33 is reached. The contact member 34 is connected by a wire 36 with the time relay 37 which is likewise connected by a wire 38 with the" line 31. The function of the time rela is to prevent rapid unloading and reloa ing of the compressorin case the motor M is an elevator or hoist motor and the control circuit is opened and closed rapidly as might be the case on making an even stop at a floor. It will further benoted that one .of the mains from the generator G, herein the one to which'the wire 30 is connected is likewise tapped by a wire 39 which connects to the magnet 29' and then to a stationary contact 40. A wire-41. leads from the wire 31 to a member 42I-wliich is adapted when current is supplied to the magnet 37 to close a circuit through magnet 29 by contact with v the contact member 40. If a time relay -were not needed the parts 37 and 42, 40

could be omitted and the circuit changed by connecting 31 to the left hand connection on 29 and the wire 39 to the sector 34.

The mode of o eration of this illustrative mechanism will e readily apparent. As sume that the switch 32 is closed and that the motor 2 is driving the compressor which It will be evident thatin a large size compressor a considerable quantity of current may be drawn from the power mains by the motor 2. Assume then that it isdesired to start the motor M and that this motor also will draw heavily upon the mains and in fact so heavily that for any one. of numerous reasons it is desirable not to have the combined full load current consum tion of the motors M and 2 simultaneous y drawn from the mains.

the controlling lever 35 is moved around to start up the motor M,- it will first close the. circuit through the contact 34;, wire 36,

magnet 37, wire 38, and wire 31 and so enersupplied from the receiver through pipes 16 and 18 to act upon the upper piston 12 and, by closure of the intake controlling valve 5, unload the compressor. Any suitable means, as for example, a dash pot, may be provided to retard the' movement of the controller handle 35 sufiiciently to permit the unloading of the compressor before the motor M is started, It will be evident, however, that the motor M and the motor 2 will not draw simultaneously upon the lines for more than an instant at full load capacity in any event. When the compressor has been unloaded, the current consumption of the motor 2 will drop to a very small percent of its full'load demand and accordin ly the current consumed in the plant will be largely reduced. It will be evident that when the motor 2 is not in operation the various control mechanisms will be inoperable and so no current will be wasted.

' It must be understood that this system of control could be employed equally well with a steam driven plant, or in fact, practically any plant wherein the available motive power is limited, and might even be used where a compressor and some other load were arranged to be driven by a single prime mover, e. g. whereby the compressor might be still turned over unloaded while the other load was on the prime mover. Again, for example, assuming a steam plant with limited boiler capacity, steam driven compressors and steam driven hoist, it will be evident that 'the opening of the throttle in the main steam line to the hoist engine would be caused to admit steam directly to the piston 12 and so unload the compressor driving engine. Then, the latter being provided with a control mechanism of the well known Conrader or Wineman-types would at once have its steam consumption reduced to a until the compressor was been shown for purposes of illustra ion and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departin from its spirit or the scope of the appende claims. I v

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a power system, a plurality of prime movers, a source of power medium ample for the simultaneous full load operation of all of said prime movers, means for connecting said prime movers with said source capable of transmitting such medium thereto in quantity adequate for simultaneous full loaded operation thereof, and means automatically operative to effect a substantial reduction in the consumption of power medium by one of said prime movers when another is started.

2. In a power s stem, a source of power medium, a plurality of prime movers arranged to be driven thereby and having separate loads, and means automatically operative to throw ed the load of one of said prime movers when the other is started.

3. In a power system, a compressor, unloading means therefor, another load, means for driving said compressor and-load. and means for automatically causing said unloading nreans to unload the' compressor throughout any rate of driving of the other load whereby to preclude the compressor load and the other load being carried at ,the same-time by the power system.

4. In. a power system, a compressor, unloading means therefor, another load, means for driving said compressor and load, means for initiating the driving of said load independently of the driving of said compressor and means controlled by said last mentioned means to unload the compressor.

5. In an electrically driven power system, a generator, a plurality of motors both of which receive their operating current from said generator and one of which is intermittently operable, a compressor driven by another of said motors, and means for unloading said compressor when said first mentioned motor is started.

6. In an electrically driven power system, a generator, a plurality of motors both of which receive their operating current. from said generator and one of which is intermittently operated, a variable load driven by another of said motors, and means for reducing said load to a minimum when said first mentioned motor is' started, said means comprising a control circuit which is opened when said second mentioned motor is stopped. i

7. In a power system, a source'of power medium, a plurality of prime movers ar-j ranged to be driven thereby, and means automatically operativeto efiect a reduction in ower medium consumption by one of sai prime vmovers whenever the other is Started including a control system controlled by the state, as to operation, of both prime movers;

"8. In a power system, a source of power medium, a plurality of prime movers ,arranged to be driven. thereby, controlling means for each of the same, i and means automatically operative to eifect a reduction in power medium consumption by one of said prime movers when'the other is started including a control systemcontrolled by the controllng means for each of said prime movers. I

9. In an electrically driven power system, a generator, a plurality of motors both of which receive their operatin current from said generator and one of wh1ch is intermittentl operable, a compressor driven by anot ier of said motors, and means for unloading said compressor when said first mentioned motor is started, said means comprismg a control circu t which is opened when said compressor driving motor is stopped.

'10. In a power system, a source of power loo operative upon starting of said second mentioned prime mover.

11. In a power system, a source of'power medium, a plurality -of prime movers operable thereby,.a compressor driven by one of said prime movers, another of said prime movers being intermittently operable, a receiver, receiver pressure controlled means for loading and unloading said compressor, and means for unloading said compressor operative upon starting of said second mentioned prime mover, sald means being operative to maintain said compressor unloaded until said second mentioned prime mover-is stopped.

12. In a power system, a source of power medium, a plurality of prime movers operable thereby, a compressor driven by one of said prime movers, another of said prime' movers being intermittently operable, a rece1ver, receiver pressure controlled means for loading and unloading said compressor, and means for unloading said compressor operative upon starting of said second mentioned prime mover, said means being operative to maintain said compressor unloaded pressors,

until said second mentioned prime mover is stopped and comprising a member cooperating with said unloading means.

' 13. In an unloading mechanism for compressors, a compressor intake controlling valve, and a plurality of automatlcally operable means for actuating the same.

14. In combination, a plurality, of ower means, a compressor driven by one 0 said means, and a compressor controlling mechanism comprisingan intake controllm valve, receiver pressure responsive means or controlling the' same, and means for controllin the same operated upon starting one of sai means.

15. In combination, a plurality of power means, a compressor driven by one of said means, and a compressor controlling mechanism comprising an intake controllin valve, receiver pressure responsive means or controlling the same and means for controlling the same operate upon starting of the other Of said power means.

16. In a compressor controlling .mechanism, an intake controlling valve, a plurality of cylinders in axial alinement therewith, a plurality of alined pistons in said cylinders, and means for supplyin operatin fluid to each of said pisto s, eit er of sai pistons being operative to control said unloading valve. Y I

17. In a compressor controlling mechanism, an intake controllin valve, a pair of alined cylinders, pistons t erein, means for supplying operating fluid to said pistons, means for transmitting movement of one of said pistons to the other thereof, and means for transmitting the movement of the latter piston to said intake cont-rolling valve.

18. In an unloading mechanism for coma compressor intake controlling valve, and a plurality of fluid pressure operatedmeans for actuating the same.

19. In an unloading mechanism for compressors, a. compressor intake controlling valve, and a plurality of fluid pressure operated means for actuating the same, one of .which means is controlled by. compressor discharge pressure;

20. In combination, a source of operating medium, a motor adapted to be driven thereby, means for controlling the driving otsaid motor by said medium, a second motor adapted to be driven by said operating medium, a compressor driven by said second motor, an intake controlling valve associated with said compressor, and a plurality of means for actuating said intake controlling valve respectively controlled by compressor discharge pressure and by said controlling means.

21. In an electrically driven power system, a generator, a plurality of motors, one of notwithstanding an availability which is intermittently operable, a .compressor driven by another of said motors, and means for unloading said compressor when said first mentioned motoris started including means for preventing instantaneous reloading thereof it said first mentioned motor is immediately stopped after its startmg. i

- 22. In combination, a motor, a compressor,

and means for unloading said compressor, said means being automatically electrically pluralit of load carrying elements, driving means t erefor capable on adequate supply of power medium of driving all of said elements simultaneously, and means automatically operative to preclude more than one of said loads being carried at a time notwithstanding an availability of operating medium for said driving means adequate to permit the latter to drive said load carrying elements simultaneously.

25. A compressor system comprising a plurality of load carrying elements, driving means therefor capable on adequate supply of operating medium of driving all. of said elements simultaneously, and means automatically operative whenever one of said loads is applied to preclude the application of the other notwithstanding an availability of operating medium for said driving means adequate to permit the latter to drive said load carrying elements simultaneously.

26. A compressor system comprising a plurality of load carrying elements, driving means therefor, of operating medium of driving all of said elements simultaneously, and means for automatically relieving the load of one'of said elements during continuous driving thereof whenever the other of said loads is applied, of operating medium for said driving means adequate to permit the latter to drive said load carry ing elements simultaneously.

27. A compressor system comprising a compressor having a controlling valve, a

fluid pressure receiver and electrical means associated therewith, and means tor actuatmg said valve including means associated capable on adequate supply with both the fluid pressure receiver and the electrical means and adapted tobe controlled either by the pressure in said receiver or by said electrical means. 1

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HALBERT B HALVORSEN. 

